Monthly Archives: May 2013

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Anonymous hacker Jeremy Hammond pleads guilty to Stratfor breach – RT USAHacker and activist Jeremy Hammond pleaded guilty Tuesday morning in a New York courtroom to violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act as a member of the Internet collective known as Anonymous. Hammond, 28, was arrested last March and charged with hacking into the computers of Strategic Forecasting Inc., or Stratfor – a global intelligence company based out of Austin, Texas.

New York claims more proof of bank mortgage abusesNEW YORK (Reuters) – New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said there is mounting evidence that Bank of America Corp , Wells Fargo and Co and other banks violated the terms of a settlement designed to end mortgage servicing abuses.

Obama Expands Militarization of PoliceAmong items transfered to local law enforcement agencies have been assault rifles and grenade launchers, even Blackhawk helicopters and .50 caliber machine guns; In fiscal year 2011 alone, the Pentagon transferred almost $500 million worth of materials to domestic law enforcement – near double the previous year’s total

“By What Authority?” – Questioning Obama – The Nader PageDear Mr. President: As a former lecturer in constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School, you know that the federal government, including the Office of the President, does not enjoy limitless powers. As President, your powers are limited to those conferred either by the Constitution or federal statutes.

Too-Big-To-Jail Dogs Obama’s Justice DepartmentThe U.S. Department of Justice appears to have neither conducted nor received any analyses that would show whether criminal charges against large financial institutions would harm the economy, potentially undermining a key DOJ argument for why the world’s biggest banks have escaped indictment.

US government admits to killing four American citizens with drones – RT USAUnited States Attorney General Eric Holder has informed Congress that four American citizens have been killed in Yemen and Pakistan by US drones since 2009. It has been widely reported but rarely acknowledged in Washington that three US citizens – Samir Khan, Anwar al-Awlaki and his teenage son, Abdulrahman al-Awlaki – were executed in Yemen by missile-equipped drones in 2011.

Julian Assange sues US military over secrecy of Bradley Manning trial – RT USAJulian Assange and a coalition of activists and journalists filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against the military judge overseeing Army Pfc. Bradley Manning’s trial in a bid to open access to the secretive proceedings. During the trial both access to transcripts and prosecution and defense motions have been virtually inaccessible.

The Courage to Put Yourself on the LineGET UPDATES FROM Mike Lux Demonstrators today are using their bodies to send a message to Eric Holder that it is time to stop shielding the big Wall Street banks from prosecution.

Why Austerity Kills: From Greece to U.S., Crippling Economic Policies Causing Global Health CrisisIn their new book, “The Body Economic: Why Austerity Kills,” economist David Stuckler and physician Sanjay Basu examine the health impacts of austerity across the globe. The authors estimate there have been more than 10,000 additional suicides and up to a million extra cases of depression across Europe and the United States since governments started introducing austerity programs in the aftermath of the economic crisis.

Arrests In Occupy Protest Against ‘Too Big To Jail’ BanksWASHINGTON — Owners of foreclosed homes were arrested Monday during a protest outside Justice Department headquarters, where they demonstrated against prosecutors’ failure to take legal action against bankers. Seventeen former homeowners were arrested, according to Washington police.

Disappointing Unsealing Decision in Aaron Swartz CaseThe public lost another battle in the U.S. v. Aaron Swartz case, this one over transparency. On May 13, 2013, the U.S. District Court judge handling the prosecution sided with the government, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and JSTOR and refused to make public any information in the case that any of these three entities wished to keep under seal.

Schneiderman Delays Suit Against BofA, Wells FargoBy Shayndi Raice New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is delaying his lawsuit against Bank of America and Wells Fargo over violations of a landmark mortgage settlement. Schneiderman announced his intention to sue two weeks ago with much fanfare, including a press conference with New York homeowners and appearances on MSNBC and CNBC.

Chris Hedges: Rise Up or Die – TruthdigRise Up or Die Illustration by Mr. Fish By Chris Hedges Joe Sacco and I spent two years reporting from the poorest pockets of the United States for our book “Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt.”

Is Obama Worse For Press Freedom Than Nixon?President Barack H. Obama’s outrageous seizure of the Associated Press’s phone records, allegedly to discover sources of leaks, should surprise no one. Obama has relentlessly pursued leakers ever since he became president. He is fast becoming the worst national security press president ever, and it may not get any better.